HAVEN joins worldwide fight to put an end to violence against women

V-day, a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls, celebrated its 15th anniversary Thursday by hosting its global campaign "One Billion Rising."

One Billion Rising gathers people from all over the world as far as India, South Africa, Sudan, etc. for a "dance strike" in hopes to bring awareness to violence against women and girls.

V-day named the strike One Billion Rising for the one-in-three women in the world who are assaulted, which totals one billion, according to the UN Secretary-General's Office.

The organization is known more for benefit productions of playwright/founder Eve Ensler's award winning play, "The Vagina Monologues" along with other artistic works, which raises funds and awareness for the cause.

Oakland County's nationally recognized non-profit leader HAVEN, center for the prevention and treatment of sexual assault and domestic violence, was among the billions of people joining in on the campaign this year.

"We will rise up and dance because dancing is of the body and it insists we take up space. It joins us. It's a meaningful way to express our refusal to participate in status quo until rape culture ends," said HAVEN's director of the prevention program, and organizer of the event, Cristy Cardinal in a press release.

Local men and women from the community, as well as businesses such as Chrysler, Burton Share Management, and NOW (national organization for women) were present at the event to show their support for what HAVEN calls a human issue as oppose to just a woman's issue.

The event offered music, warming stations, and food provided by food truck vendors such as Jacques' Tacos, The Green Zebra, and Treat Dreams. Chrysler employees led the official dance with the anthem song "Break the Chain" with lyrics by Tena Clark.

"We were really pleased with the turnout," said Cardinal. "A number of supporters joined together and did the "Break the Chain" dance and it was a sight to see.

"I think what we did today really mattered and raised awareness about the need to end this violence," she added.